Unquestionably the most highly-anticipated vehicle of the last five years – one that provides stellar performance and jaw-dropping looks at a price attainable for the masses – the Chevrolet Camaro was already immediate success for General Motors even before the first one was sold.
Although this isn’t our first time behind the wheel, it is our first opportunity to spend a solid week in a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS, the biggest “in” thing and “must have” of the season Detroit has produced in our memory.
What is it?
A muscle car for the new millennium, the Camaro SS is the latest in a line of two-doors that stretched from 1966 (as a 1967 model) to its fourth generation model, which ceased production in 2002. The fans never went away – as evidenced by the hefty waiting list you’ll encounter at a dealership today. They just got older and, er, paunchier. And that’s somewhat like the car that we have here today.
On the other hand, though, the new Camaro is on a mission to attract millennials to the car and the brand, a group that has been enamored with imports from the Far East. After a night hanging out at the neighborhood Sonic Drive-In, we’d say Chevrolet has succeeded. Adults were generally too embarrassed (or too cool) to approach, but that didn’t stop the teens working behind the counter or skating orders to the cars.
Our tester is an up-level Camaro 2SS equipped with the RS appearance package.
What’s it up against?
The gang’s all here: Most of the Camaro’s old rivals — the Mustang, and the Challenger – are around, but let’s take a moment of silence for the Plymouth Barracuda and Pontiac Firebird.
Our Camaro SS test car, with 426 horsepower, slots in nicely, spec-wise, with the pricier Dodge Challenger SRT8, and it positively whips the 315-pony Mustang GT – at least on paper.
GM thinks owners of Nissan’s 370Z, BMW 3-Series are in the Camaro’s gun sights. We don’t expect just a whole lot of cross-shopping.
Any breakthroughs?
For one thing, this is a Camaro that handles – but more on that later. With a huge Corvette-based V8 under the hood, special care had to be taken to conserve fuel in this modern era of careful consumption. Start with a Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual transmission with short throws and a 1-4 gas-saving shift mode, when speed is sufficient to bypass the other gears.
For encounters with a “Christmas tree” in the middle of summer, a competitive/sport mode and Performance Launch Control assist with consistency when leaving the line.
How does it look?
This new Camaro takes the best looks from the 1969 model and updates them to safety and performance requirements of the current day. The result is a car that looks the part even though, when posed next to its inspiration, looks totally different. A chopped top and 20-inch wheels help make the car “mean.” So too, the evil grin that peeks out from below the hood. Overall, we think it’s a nicely-executed effort.
The Australian-sourced Holden Commodore platform that underpins the Canadian-built, All-American Camaro is a good basis for the hot rod that this Camaro SS wants to be. It features the long nose/short tail look that is de rigueur in a modern grand touring machine. A side crease helps to define the flanks from front to rear wheel wells. A simulated hood scoop hints at the level of performance underneath, while a larger front intake under bumper sucks in whatever it can to keep things cool inside.
Like it or not, it’ll still stop just about anyone in their tracks – even though it has been on the market all summer long.
And on the inside?
Although the heart thumps the beat of a Corvette, this ride can seat four. Leather buckets in our test example offered good bolstering that holds occupants in place firmly during hard cornering. A retro-looking gauge package in a black binnacle on the dashboard is offset by silver trim pieces ringing the needles. We nicked the Camaro initially because of a rather bland looking expanse of black plastic, but that was a pre-production model. A silver strip of trim that bisects the dash and adds visual interest at the same time made it into the production model.
A Boston Acoustics audio system commands attention from atop the center stack,and has controls that, frankly, remind us of a Japanese toy robot. Below that is an optional four-gauge package that houses a voltmeter, transmission fluid temperature, oil pressure and oil temperature gauges. We like that they are included, even if they look a little gimmicky in their execution. We don’t care for their placement being so low on the dash, far enough to cause you to actually take your eyes off the road to check them out.
The rear seat can accommodate two for short rides to the drive-in or shopping mall. They offer good support as well but owing to the sloping roofline, they are short on headroom. Chances are if this is your ride, you won’t spend much time in the backseat anyway.
Oh, and those monster roof pillars? Yep, they block any ounce of a view. The blind spot is more of a blind zone. Hey, it’s the price you pay for this kind of style.
But does it go?
Gone are the days when GM would stuff an anemic 200 horsepower V8 under the hood of its Corvettes and Camaros to comply with emissions regulations. A so-called icon or halo-car with that underhood would be the equivalent of a gelding racehorse.
So GM took the high road, putting an LS3 6.2-liter Corvette engine under the Camaro’s hood and the result is magical. An intoxicating gurgle greets you after turning over the ignition. Gauges jump to life, sweeping through their entire range before settling down, and then we are off.
The sequentially fuel injected LS3 V8 develops 426 horsepower and 420 lb-ft. of torque when coupled with the Tremec. Owing to the active fuel management workings on the automatic transmission-equipped L99 engine, output is slightly down to 400-horsepower, with 410 lb-ft. of torque. No matter though, as we like to row our gears ourselves.
The six-speed, is the same box of cogs as found in the Ford Shelby Mustang and Dodge Challenger and offers precise throws, and quick shifts, except for the first time we encountered the 1 to 4 “skip-shift” fuel saving mode. Thankfully it only engages when throttle is at low load, typically below 21 percent.
Tipping in at 3,849 pounds, it is by no means a lightweight. At just 151 pounds shy of two tons, this baby needs all the help it can get to achieve the rather optimistic EPA ratings of 16 mpg city/24 mpg highway. At best, with a combination of city and highway driving, admittedly including some track time, we saw an average of 13.8 mpg. Expect better if you don’t drive like, well, a car enthusiast. Still, it is impressive to be cruising up the Florida Turnpike at 80-mph, and notice that the engine is only turning 2,000 rpm.
This fifth-generation Camaro is the first to ever sport a multi-link independent rear suspension. The FE3 package with coilovers that accompanies the V8 model, helps to smooth out the road imperfections we saw in Michigan this past summer; On our Florida routes, it offered great road feel that was transferred directly through the rack and pinion steering with its 16.1:1 ratio. Four-pot Brembo calipers put the squeeze on the rotors following spirited romps on a straight. Overall, the handling package on the Camaro SS is one that is a very competent – with a few caveats.
Running a few evaluation laps at our official South Florida test facility, Palm Beach International Raceway, saw a quick launch with the Tremec taking whatever abuse we could heap upon it. Through pit-out and into the hard left, we found ourselves rapidly accelerating up the front straight to our first hard braking point. Stand on the binders hard, and cut the apex as you round turn four. Squeeze the throttle on exit and you’ll quickly find yourself in turn five, a sweeping right-hander that causes the car to drift out to the track’s left side before hitting the almost 90-degree right hand turn six. By this time the faint smell of torching brake pads starts to waft its way into the cockpit. Hold on a little more through seven and eight, and then stand on it down the nearly half mile back straight, before standing on the Brembos one more time through the wide sweeper that leads through turns 10 and 11. Then squeeze the throttle once more and rejoice in all the fossil fuels being toasted in the eight firing cylinders up from. The sounds out the back are totally intoxicating.
We pull into the pits once again to find severely smoking brakes. Perhaps it was a set of pads that were glazed over by a previous driver in our test vehicle, or perhaps a heavy application of pedal foot. Regardless, the brake system showed off its displeasure at being flogged during the previous four laps around the 2.034-mile road course.
It’s obvious this new Camaro SS has to be many cars to many people, and compromises must be made to appeal to every group, without breaking the bank. The SS, which already features a lowered suspension set up over its RS sibling, could stand another couple of inches of drop, in addition to some additional ride stiffening – at least as an option.
Despite those few minor quibbles, in a street fight, the Camaro SS would definitely be a capable weapon of choice.
Why you would buy it:
You’re a red-blooded, meat-eating American who wants to create some American Graffiti memories of your own.
Why you wouldn’t:
Because you have changed your ways, leading an exclusively green lifestyle from your car (Prius) to your food intake (tofu).
Leftlane’s bottom line:
GM, currently in the fight of their corporate life, has already proven they can build cars the public wants. This new Camaro is only the icing on that cake.
With looks that touch those who remember the original and appeal to a whole new group of fanboys and girls, they will sell every copy they can crank out. Hopefully for GM’s future, they will sell lots of other Chevys, Buicks, GMCs and Cadillacs, as well.
It’s a lofty ambition, to be certain, but whether you choose the six or the eight-cylinder Camaro, you will wind up with a neo-retro sports car that rewards your senses on almost every level.
2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS base price, $33,430. As tested, $36,750.
RS Package, $1,200; Sunroof, $900; 20-inch polished alloy wheels, $470; Destination, $750.
Words and photos by Mark Elias.
Thanks to the Sonic Drive-In, Lake Worth, FL.
09/04, 2:40 PM
posted by:
Stix
Am I the only one who’s NOT SURPRISED that the new Camaro got a good review?
09/04, 2:44 PM
posted by:
A4
Beautiful ride.
09/04, 3:01 PM
posted by:
wideopenthrottle
no im not surprised. but the 2011 mustang will destroy it. already handles better, and now with the new engines, not even close
09/04, 3:03 PM
posted by:
zfenderguy
Dope car nonetheless
09/04, 3:03 PM
posted by:
iluvamcars
Stix? It seems as though you just want something to go wrong with the Camaro and watch GM die.
Great job LLN! This is an excellent review of an excellent product. I want to drive this one day.
-iluvamcars
09/04, 3:04 PM
posted by:
92GTA
And this is getting reviewed AGAIN why?!
09/04, 3:05 PM
posted by:
Kid Icarus
The 2011 Mustang is going to be a better car
09/04, 3:07 PM
posted by:
iluvamcars
I would rather have this over the Mustang. This looks much better. Asfar as handling, i really don’t care because i don’t have the money to even buy a top of the line model like the SS. I am all about performance nd the Camaro has beaten the Mustang in most tests. Only a few tests have results where the mustang wins. Me, i think its all about who is driving the car. Everyone drives different, resulting in different results.
zfender? What are you even talking about?
-iluvamcars
09/04, 3:08 PM
posted by:
iluvamcars
This test is different. This was a week long test, while others were quick drives. This review is probably the best so far.
-iluvamcars
09/04, 3:08 PM
posted by:
Noah
THis review is some much BS. BM was late to the start, will never overtake the mustang now and frankly I think the cars looks stink, even in SS drag. The price is to high and as usual the BM dealers are surcharging. Do BM or the dealers ever learn their lesson???
09/04, 3:15 PM
posted by:
fordlover999
I dont like the styling of the camaro.
09/04, 3:21 PM
posted by:
A4
Well seeing as how “BM” brought back the Camaro at all, it would look like they learned a lesson. You should be thankful that everyone isn’t driving around in Aveo’s and 15 year old Cavaliers.
09/04, 3:33 PM
posted by:
2WheeledSpeed
I’m a Mustang guy but I’m glad the Camaro is back, just as I was sad to see GM get rid of it a few years back. It’s been a great competition to watch stretching back to 1967, and I’m of the belief that you need a little competition to build great cars (Otherwise, where’s the incentive?).
09/04, 3:33 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
I was the biggest fan of this when it came out, but I’ve grown to like the new Mustang. It’s probably a mixture of things – including GM’s bankruptcy, but the new Mustang really is quite a looker. The Camaro is a great car, it deserves praise, but as with everything, it’s still in a fad phase. I hate to go with fads, so I’d buy a Mustang to be different, I thought I’d never say that, but it’s true. I’ll be waiting for the 2011 MY, then never look back.
09/04, 3:42 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
2012 Z28 gets released… Oh wait did I just type that online???? Whooops!!! My bad….
09/04, 3:58 PM
posted by:
murphy1
im with you jake, ive been a pontiac man all my life and ford was always the enemy. but i agree, this is the typical “late to the party” effort by the french company -olet who was instrumental in pontiacs demise. never thought id say this but the new mustang is my new favorite….gulp!
09/04, 4:00 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
2013 Iroc Z gets a return…. Uh Oh, I’m as bad as Need4SSpeed
09/04, 4:09 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
GMInsider told me on Twitter and confirmed on Facebook that in 2011 – they will use the 2.4 Turbo from the Solstice GXP as the base engine – specs are to be 260 hp and closer in weight to the Mustang V-6.
09/04, 4:11 PM
posted by:
superman
I’d wait for the Mustang. I hate the ass on the Camaro. High, flat and ugly. Mustang looks good all the way around and performs better.
09/04, 4:35 PM
posted by:
zfenderguy
iluvamcars – I was responding to the post from wideopenthrottle, directly above mine. I didn’t call his name out as I was hoping the consecutive post would obviate that due to continuity. I guess not. Anyway, the Camaro is dope. Overexposed, maybe, but an all around great car from GM. And the first Camaro since the ‘67-’69 model that I would be proud to put in my garage.
09/04, 4:39 PM
posted by:
Mark Elias
We do first drives when the manufacturers launch the vehicle, and generally are paired up with another driver so in reality we might get two or three hours behind the wheel, which hardly exposes us to the warts if there are any.
These week long reviews allow us to use the cars in daily situations much as you would, and occasionally on the track as well, where we may discover smoking brakes, not so stiff suspension and the like. Not every car gets a day at the track, but when a manufacturer says they have a track-tuned suspension, we like to try it out.
^Noah, car manufacturers charge a dealer XX,XXX for a car. The dealer in turn charges XX,XXX+YYYYY. But you don’t have to buy it. You have the right to walk away from that selling price and find a dealer who will sell you what you want, closer to the price you want. Or, if you must be on the cutting edge of conspicuous consumption, then step right up.
As P.T. Barnum once said…….
09/04, 4:48 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
^ But what does rolling in Jell-O while yodeling have to do with…
…sorry, wrong quote.
09/04, 4:51 PM
posted by:
Stix
@iluvamcars
It’s just too bad I never said anything about wanting GM to fail. Read more next time.
09/04, 6:19 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
stix, leave less cryptic comments and you may find that people actually understand what you write…ok, so you were “NOT SURPRISED” that the new camaro got a good review, so what? what does that mean? you’re not surprised because the car is good? you’re not surprised because you think LLN is biased with respect to the camaro or GM in general? you’re not surprised because you were dropped as a child and lost the ability to be surprised by things?
09/04, 6:38 PM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
Can’t wait for the 2011 Stang. Has anybody seen a 2010 Mustang GT yet? I’ve seen lots of Camaro SS’s and the V8 Challengers but all I see for the new Mustang are V6’s.
09/04, 6:46 PM
posted by:
iamzombie
What the heck do you guys do with your images when you publish them? Whoever your photographer is laid out some beautiful shots, and they look like crap when you view them at their native res (by hijacking your gallery software, which is terrible, btw… who the heck does dynamic resizing?)
Either he took those pics with his cellphone, or you guys compressed the hell out of them, I can’t decide which it is.
On the plus side, nice review, thanks for it.
09/04, 7:15 PM
posted by:
SomeGreek
Good looking car, unacceptable interior. Such a dissapointment compared to the exterior.
09/04, 7:19 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
iamzombie, it looks like high ISO to me.
09/04, 8:02 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
JakeK66, don’t be jealous because you don’t have friends and family that work at GM’s headquarters, proving grounds, and tech center….
That info I just said isn’t on any website. Except maybe camaro5.com And if you go back and look at any ZR1 or CTS-V LLN topics, you’ll see that I was avidly reporting information that was very accurate. Believe me or don’t but when the Z28 debuts you’ll remember some commenter on LLN was right…
09/04, 8:36 PM
posted by:
Bosley
@Mark, ……. Mmmmm, suckers,……
09/04, 10:57 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Great review Mark. I don’t know what some people are bitching about, I’d rather read 10 reviews on a car like this than one on the latest appliance de jour. And about your 4 buddies there, do you think between them they could afford the gas never mind the car?
I only have one concern with the Camaro and that is did they go too far in the name of style vs. practicality. I have fond memories of riding around in my buddy’s ‘67 and no matter how impaired our vision might have been it was never the fault of the car itself. Could they not have lowered those door sills just a little?
09/04, 11:14 PM
posted by:
ltlPony
How many hours spend to design the interior? I think it is 2009 and things look little bit more futuristic.
They got inspired by a pair of binoculars, Left eye speedometer Right eye RPMs and in the middle a nice ergonomic colon for your nose.
09/04, 11:28 PM
posted by:
larsim
NEVER thought I would say this about a GM car – but here it goes:
HOT!
09/05, 12:01 AM
posted by:
iluvamcars
The interior is supposed to look retro just like the outside pony! I geuss you do not want a car where the inerior flows with the exterior.
-iluvamcars
09/05, 2:24 AM
posted by:
Mark Elias
^^Iamzombie,
I shot the pics and the lead image was using some HDR techniques which did compress it a bit. As for the others shot in daylight, they appear fine on my screen. Some get a buildup of noise depending on whether I used the High Dynamic Range process, but the one of the kids around the car is more a problem with higher ISO.
^^Johnnycanuck, Thanks!
Mark
09/05, 10:33 AM
posted by:
iamzombie
Thanks for replying Mark, some friends had suggested it was a problem with high ISO. Really I just find the paintwork appears dithered, which is a shame, the pics are really nicely done.
09/05, 12:16 PM
posted by:
Bosley
So if the Palm Beach Raceway gave the brakes so much trouble, what do you think the times would be if it ran the Nurburgring? Not great, in my opinion, because of the 2-ton weight (when you include a 150lb driver) it sounds like the brakes would melt or ignite trying to slow all that mass down. Inertia can be a b!tch sometimes. Here’s a short list of vehicles with curb weights close to the 3849 lb Camaro:
2009 Cadillac SRX – 3973 lbs
2009 Chevy Equinox – 3602 lbs
2009 BMW M5 – 4012 lbs
2009 Dodge Charger – 3727 lbs
2009 Dodge Viper – 3440 lbs
2009 Ford Escape Hybrid – 3638 lbs
2009 Ford Mustang – 3461 lbs
2009 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited – 3889 lbs
2009 Lexus RX 350 – 3870 lbs
2009 Toyota Tacoma – 3810 lbs
2009 Toyota Highlander – 3979 lbs
2009 911 Carrera – 3075 lbs
( Stats taken from here:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle/curb-weight1.htm )
09/05, 1:59 PM
posted by:
larsim
No Navigation System ! (?).
09/05, 8:44 PM
posted by:
ltlPony
“iluvamcars”
About the Interior
The fact that the interior flows with the exterior does not make it attractive.
I really like that car they way it looks and the way it moves, but I ll spent as a driver more time looking that, I won’t say ugly but (not attractive) dashboard.
The more I try to find how the dashboard flows with the exterior the more it reminds me the face
of WALL-E.
09/06, 4:14 AM
posted by:
buytheredcar
the cheesy jukebox interior is the deal killer as well as some of the cheapo exterior bits..
09/06, 7:22 AM
posted by:
MrTreize
First let me say great review mr Elias. That car is indeed beautiful but I have issues with how it is described as a Holden derived, Canadian built All American car. It most definitely is not an all american car if it is not built in America. The Camry is more All American since it really is built here, and before the emails and comments begin, I do not own, have never owned and never plan on owning a Toyota, but I am an American. And another thing, far be it for me to complain but aren’t muscle cars supposed to be you know, affordable? In their heyday from their beginnings in the early automotive history, typically a RWD high performance vehicle would be the least expensive vehicle in a company’s lineup. I guess this type of car is typically for people older than me with nostalgia on their minds. Still it is a pretty car.
09/06, 1:06 PM
posted by:
Mark Elias
Mr Trieze,
All-American could be twisted to include North American, which the Camaro would technically qualify as.
As for muscle cars and affordability, I guess it’s safe to say “that ship has sailed.” You are right in your statement about muscle cars basically being stripped production cars with big engines. But that was back in the beginning days of the genre. Now we are offered automatic climate control, electric windows and door locks, satellite radio, navigation and so on, that a muscle car fanatic who is now into middle age would not think about buying a car that wasn’t so equipped. And this technology, which is very common place today, still costs the companies money, so guess who ends up paying for that? In the grand scheme of things, the Camaro is an affordable muscle car, especially when you think about the V6, 304 horsepower Camaro base model,
But, as we know from marketing class, any time you have a product that the public wants and wants right now, the dealers are going to be more than happy to separate the conspicuous consumers who want to be seen in the latest and greatest, from their hard earned dough by charging what they can. And then laugh all the way to the bank.
So wait a year until the pipeline is filled, and you will be able to find a Camaro/Mustang, or whatever at list price or below.
Thanks for reading.
09/06, 9:20 PM
posted by:
everything
A nice upgrade on the Camaro, I sin’t think I would buy it the interior is crappy,sure it is stunning but driving it was not to comforting.
09/06, 9:50 PM
posted by:
carstuff
Not sure what you mean by “not to comforting” but I had a V8 Camaro for the weekend and it had a great ride for the power and suspension setup.
This vehicle is a wonderful example of what an American “muscle” car should be. I do agree the interior could use some improvement though. However the price on a base camaro at $22k with 304 hp and almost 30 mpg highway is amazing with a car that looks wonderful.
09/07, 5:15 AM
posted by:
A4
Damn Bosley, this car is 200 pounds heavier than an Escape Hybrid? Maybe someone should drop a big V8 in one of those instead.
09/07, 10:06 AM
posted by:
Bosley
Yeah, a car that’s also 400 lbs heavier than the Viper with less power. Not the way that relationship should be going in my opinion. Fuel economy in this car, nah just fuel consumption….
09/07, 11:23 AM
posted by:
A4
Well its around 800 lbs heavier than a Corvette Z06, which has more power and costs less than a Viper, so you think GM would have taken a lesson or two from the C6 team when they built the Camaro. Although the Camaro V6 does get impressive fuel “economy” for all the numbers at play here.
09/07, 12:10 PM
posted by:
Bosley
You’d think that if this is going to be seen as a ‘muscle car’ it would be good at 0 to 60 on a strip. Seems to me that power-to-weight ratio and stopping ability are fairly important to that style of racing (and really racing in general). Not too mention the 200+ pound ‘old guys’ who bought it ’cause it reminds them of something they drove, carrying all that extra weight in the car!
09/08, 3:11 AM
posted by:
2XFusion
this car is striking to say the least, tbh, it is a beautiful car. I saw one in a parking lot and actually stopped and took some pictures as it was the first one I’ve seen- it was yellow.
but if you haven’t seen the new ‘10 Mustangs, go take a look. for some reason, they just look a smidge exotic with the right packages. a few I saw had track packs on and some mean looking wheels. the rounded off rear end corners and fender changes really make this car stand out. I’d personally take the Mustang myself. less power and in some tests, it actually beats the SS Camaro- that says something about the whole car. the Challenger to me is just a small Charger- nothing special and already dated.
09/08, 10:18 AM
posted by:
Cardemon04
Bosley: The camaro is only 35 lbs heavier than the GTR… and that laps the ring pretty quick. weight isn’t everything.
09/08, 12:52 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
This “pony” car is a Clydesdale.
Shorten it by about 3 feet and drop 1000lbs off of it… I might be interested.
The Camaro has historically been a fun, sporty, SMALL coupe. There’s nothing small about the new one. Mustang is the only “pony” car I am even remotely interested in… Camaro and Challenger are whales.